Claire woke up no less than nine times last night. Each time with an agonizing scream that pierced my heart.
Needless to say, I got very, very little sleep. I decided to take her to the doctor this morning in order to ensure that there was nothing physically wrong with her. I was particularly concerned that she might have an ear infection because the symptoms of an ear infection are very similar to those of teething.
Our pediatrician declared Claire perfectly healthy, albeit a bit cranky. She remarked on Claire’s great hand-eye coordination, her terrific balance, and even her clean ears. After checking her mouth, the doc showed me how her top middle gums were painfully bulging with some white showing underneath.
“It looks like she’ll pop two at once again,” she added.
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a metaphor for our initial years as parents, with a second child who will be just 13 months younger than the first. Extra difficult while it lasts, but get it out of the way fast.
Now, please excuse me while I try to catch some ZZZs before my daughter wakes up screaming again.
Courtney
Ugh. That stinks. Wishing Claire a speedy, painless mouthful of teeth.
A question- have you routinely washed Claire’s gums since she was tiny?
I read somewhere that wiping/brushing the gums, even before teeth come in, can help prevent teething pain. Something about toughening up the gums or something.
My husband and I did this with our daughter, and she really never had much discernible trouble with teething. (And by discernible I mean I couldn’t tell if he was just being a cranky cry-baby or in pain from teething) Only one night did we give her some children’s Tylenol.
I’m a firm believer that every kid is different, so I have no idea if we were just lucky or if the wiping the gums thing has merit beyond oral hygiene.
Hope you can get some Zs.
Geek in Heels
I’ve never heard that before — thanks for letting me know. I’m not sure how much it helps in our case, though, because I wipe her gums down with a clean washcloth every day as part of her bath routine. My mom used to do this with me too and she says I was a pretty cranky teether too so maybe it’s just genetic? Our ped told us that some babies are just more sensitive teethers than others and that we must’ve been “blessed” with an extra sensitive one.
Courtney
Yeah, that’s what I figured. WIshing you and and Claire well.
Annie
Oh no!!!! Hang in there Jenny!